The state of Canada-U.S. relations reared its head at IdeaCity, SANDRA MARTIN writes ...

The original Johnny Canuck was a symbolic character from 19th-century political cartoons, a Canadian version of Uncle Sam.

THE BLOOD MATCH: Uncle Sam Vs. Johnny Canuck was all it was billed up to be and then some. The fights were instantaneous and inevitable while the quality of play was considered superior by both sides.

Johnny was used on the front of WHL Canucks sweaters in the early 1960s and was eventually reincarnated as part of a new logo launch by the NHL Canucks nearly 50 years later in 2007.